Association for Progressive Communications - statehttp://www.apc.org/en/taxonomy/term/354/0
The set of official political institutions whose specific concern is with the social and political organisation and management, in the name of the common interest, within a determined territory. A state of sufficient size and complexity will have different layers or levels of government: local, regional and national.
Style information: Clearly distinguish between "state" and "government" as these terms are often used interchangeably, but do not mean the same thing (see also the entry for "government" in this glossary). As a general rule, "state" should not be capitalised.
Source: Governance for sustainable human development: A UNDP policy document (Glossary of key terms) and Wikipediaen